Syrian Government Says 12 People Die in Violence in Latakia

The Syrian government is reporting the deaths of 12 people during two days of violence in the Mediterranean seaside port of Latakia.

The deaths follow a decision to deploy army units in Latakia in the wake of more than a week of anti-government protests that expanded to several cities and towns on Friday.

Syria is the latest Arab nation to be wracked by violence against a long-established government.

In another development, an advisor to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said Sunday that emergency rule that has been in place since the Baath Party came to power in 1963 will be lifted. He did not say when.

On Saturday thousands of protesters rallied after funerals for several people killed in the southern city of Daraa the day before. Daraa has become the center of protests against the Assad government that has turned increasingly more violent.

In a broadcast interview, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the United States has no intention of getting involved in Syria in the same way as it has in Libya. She said the Syrian government's response to the protests has yet to reach the level seen in Libya.

At the same time Clinton expressed concern over the use of force by security forces in Syria.